Stepping aboard Rovos Rail‘s Pride of Africa we felt as if we had been teleported back in time and transformed into royalty in the process!
The train, which has been lovingly restored to her former glory, is the life’s work and passion of South Africans, Rohan and Anthea Vos. For a few discerning travellers their dedication has seen a return to the golden age of rail travel on board Africa’s most luxurious train.
We hopped on at Rovos headquarters at Pretoria‘s historic Capital Park Station and before we knew it we were rolling through the open highveld on a three day journey down to Cape Town. The pace of life slows from the moment you step into Capital Park’s welcome lounge. Rohan, who makes a point of addressing all his guests, personally encourages you to turn off phones, pack away laptops, and forget about your ipods.
The train offers unique safaris through the heart of Africa and mixes magnificent scenery with top cuisine and the very best South African hospitality. There is nothing like watching an ever-changing view of winelands, mountains and endless Karoo horizons, while enjoying fine SA wines and silver service in the old Victorian dining carriage.
We got to stop off in Kimberley and were treated to a private tour of the diamond mine which now boasts a newly renovated museum and a viewing platform right over the edge of the Big Hole. Another highlight was when the train stopped in the middle of nowhere and we were offered the chance to stretch our legs and go for a walk (or a run, in my case) ending up in the Victorian village of Matjiesfontein. There, at the town’s small platform, the train waited for us to explore, and then enjoy a scrumptious breakfast while the dedicated train crew washed the windows in preparation for our arrival in Cape Town. After our morning stroll through the starkly beautiful landscape we were shown a letter written by Matjiesfontein’s most well known resident, Olive Schreiner. She had once written to a friend, ‘Now I am going to put on a hat and go out for a walk over the Karoo. Such a sense of wild exhilaration comes over me when I walk over the Karoo”¦’, a reminder of a time when things were much simpler, and nature’s beauty was more easily recognised without the clutter of modern living.
By the time we pulled into Cape Town Station we were feeling like proper royalty. We had eaten enough fine food and drunk enough champagne and wine to last a lifetime. As we stepped off the train a typically strong Cape Town wind swept the hat off a gentleman’s head and lifted a few pretty skirts. A taxi honked its horn and man asked for some spare change “¦ we were back to reality with a bump and all we wanted to do was get back on the train and continue riding it until the bank account ran dry.
The Rovos Rail continues to provide exceptionally high levels of service in a series of journeys lasting from 48 hours to 28 days, linking some of Africa’s great destinations from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam and Cairo. From scenic splendours as diverse as the game reserves of Mpumalanga to Victoria Falls, from the desert landscapes in Namibia to the lush cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal and the magnificent Gardern Route along the southeast coast.
This is an experience we would recommend to anyone with enough time and money on their side. Absolutely incredible!
You could be the winner of a trip for two on the luxurious Rovos Rail worth R40 000!
For more infomation and details on the cost of Rovos Rail’s journeys:
Tel 012- 315-8242
Email [email protected]
Website www.rovos.com
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